What Causes Neck Stiffness?

Discussion The complaint of neck stiffness always makes the clinician a little concerned until he/she understands the whole history because of the potential diagnosis of meningitis/encephalitis. While this potential is always concerning, there are many other causes of neck stiffness or pain to consider that are much more common. Normal wear and tear, injury or overuse that occur in daily activities and work can cause neck stiffness or pain. Often, even in adults, the cause of the pain is not recognized. Good examples are the adolescent above, or an innocent stumble, particularly if carrying something that may cause a person to be off-centered, twist their body to regain balance and only later cause a stiffness or soreness. The little stumble is not recognized as the cause of the neck stiffness. Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges. The most feared causes are rapidly growing bacteria such as meningococcus. Aseptic meningitis is usually caused by nonbacterial organisms and other diseases including enteroviruses, measles, mumps, and mycoplasma. Organisms colonize the person usually in the nasopharyngeal mucosa, spread to the blood stream and eventually reach the meninges by the blood-brain barrier and cerebrospinal fluid after evading the person’s immunological defenses. Lumbar puncture is needed to help determine if meningitis is present and the potential organism. To review what are the initial cerebrospinal fluid findings for meningitis, click here. Meningism...
Source: PediatricEducation.org - Category: Pediatrics Authors: Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: news